Automobile trunk



C. J. CARLSON AUTOMOBILE TRUNK July 17, 1934.

2' Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1930 I INVENTOR 6. ffar-Zdaw.

BYMTQ ATTORNEY July 17, 1934. J. CARLSON AUTOMOBI LE TRUNK 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1950 v INVENTOR a dkiisa/v.

ATTORNEY WITNESS fiV/W Patented July 17, 1934 orrica 1,966,539 p.AUTOlVIOBILE TRUNK Charles J. Carlson. nelena, Mont. Application April10, 1936 serial No. 443,209

* .solai s, (01.22449).

This invention relates to automobile trunks and a primary object thereofis to so construct atrunk of this character that it will be convertibleto form either a closed container or opened up to provide an enlargeduncovered luggage carrier. I

Another object is to construct a trunk of this character, the sectionsof which are so connected that when opened up to form additional spacewill be firmly and rigidly held while extended and which may be quicklyset up when desired to obtain a closed container having all theattributes of a trunk.

In carrying out these objects, the invention is susceptible of awide-range of modification without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention; there beingshown in the drawings for illustrative purposes a preferred andpractical form, in

. which:

. Figure 1 represents aperspective view of the rear portion of anautomobile with thisimproved trunk shown applied; 7

Fig. '2 .is an end elevation of the trunk shown in opened up positiontoform an enlarged luggage carrier; 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3'3'of Fig. '1;7

Fig. :4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4'4 of Fig. 1; 1

*Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig.1;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, thetop having been raised to permitiswinging the catch handle to thelocking position.

Fig. l is a transverse section taken on theline 77 of Fig. 2; V Fig. '8'is a detail sectional View showing one of the fasteners used forholding the trunk in closed upstanding position. I

Fig. 9=i's-'a detail section taken on the line 9 -9 of 'Fig. 2,illustrating how the opening of the movable section is limited by theengagement of j certain stops and shoulders.

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the movablesection, particularly showing one of the shoulders.

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the fixed section,particularly showing the stops and guides.

In the embodiment illustrated the trunk constituting this inventioncomprises two hingedly connected sections which will'be termed fixed andmovable sections. The fixed section includes a bottom 1 provided at itsopposite ends with brackets 2 for mounting it on an automobileframeindicated at F. The movable section comprises a bottom member 3which is connected at i-tslower edge with the front edge of the bottom 1by a double hinge 4 to provide for the flexible operation of the guideswhich connect the sections of the trunk as will be hereinafter morefully described. This member 3 which constitutes the bottom of themovable section when open, when closedforms the front wall of the trunk.

Rising from the ends of the bottom '1 are two end or-side members Band 6which are inclined forwardly and downwardly at their upper edges asshown at 7 in Fig. 2. A shel'f or bar"8 connects the upper rear portionof the endmemb'ers as shown 'clearly in -Fig. 3. Curved guides 9 arecarried by the outer face of each of the end members 5 and 6. The guides9 are spaced a slight distance'25 (Fig. 7 from thead'jacent face of therespectivesection. Base portions 26 serve as connectors between theguides 9 and the end members '5, 6. The spaces make room iorthe tongues27 (Fig. 10) of interlocking br acinge'lem'ents 10. 1 These elementsride -in-the-spaces,-tlie tongues 27 being behind the guides 9 andthereby keeping the-side members 11 and 12 of the section 3 fromspreading, especially'when open. Connecting parts 28 (Figs. 2, 9and 11)provide stops for limiting the outward swing of the movable section.This is accomplished by the engagement of these stops by theshoulders 29of the elements '10 (Fig. '9). A 'marginal piece 30, applied to eachside member 11, 12 (Figs. f7 and-10) has hook ends 31 whichengage theuppermost guides 9 and assist the function-of the elements 10. The sidemembers 11 and12 carried by the -movable section overlap the members '5and 6 of' the' fixed section-when the sections are closed. It will thus'be' seen that the movable section iscomposed of the member 3 which formsa bottom when in open position and a "front when in closed position.Said section also includes a hinged top 13 which latter constitutes thehinged top of the trunk when the sections are closed. When folded downin the position shown in Fig. 2 a large open luggage carrier is formedthe rear end of which is formed by the hinged cover 13 which is heldclosed by suitable fastenings 14.

A cross bar 15 connects the upper edges of the end members 11 and 12 andto this cross bar is hingedly connected at its rear edge the top 13 asis shown clearly in Fig. 3. A catch member 16 is carried by the crossbar 15 and is designed to engage a cooperating element carried by thelip or cross bar 8 which connects the upper ends of the end members 5and 6 and which is here shown in the form of a slot 16 to receive thecatch member 16 which latter is equipped with an operating handle 17 andby means of which the movable section and the fixed section of the trunkare secured in closed operative position. When the top 13 is locked inthe closed position the seclusion of the handle 17 will prevent theundoing of the catch 16 and so the opening of the movable section. Thetop 13 holds the handle 17 down as long as it remains closed.

Certain free edges of the members 11 and 12 are preferably provided witha reinforcing band or strip 18 and from the upper ends of this stripnear the top are laterally projecting studs 19 designed to beinterlockingly engaged with cooperating eyes 20 carried by the fixedportion of the trunk when the movable section is in closed position asis shown in Fig. 1.

The back 21 of the trunk proper is made in the form of a removable plateslidably mounted in guides 22 carried by the rear edges of the members 5and 6 as shown clearly in Fig. l. This plate 21 may, if desired, bebolted to these guides to avoid all danger of its working loose orrattling. A similar guide or keeper 23 is formed along the rear edge ofthe bottom 1 as shown in Fig. 3 to receive the lower edge of the plate21 when in operative position.

Handles 24 are preferably provided at the opposite ends of the trunk tofacilitate the manipulation thereof.

From the above description it will be obvious that when the trunk isdesigned to be used as such to provide a closed container, the parts arepositioned as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and to obtain access thereto allthat is necessary will be to raise the top 13. When it is desired toprovide more space the top 13 is raised in order to get at the handle 17for the release of the catch 16, whereupon the top is securely fastenedto the front member 3 and the fastening elements 19 and 20 at the endsof the trunk are disengaged. Then a forward pull exerted on the frontportion of the trunk will cause it to move downwardly, guided in itsmovement by the sliding of interlocking elements 9 and 10 carried by thefixed and movable end members respectively until it reaches the positionshown in Figs. 2 and 9, in which positionit will be held by theengagement of the stops 28 at the ends of the cooperating guides, by theshoulders 29 as previously explained. The double hinge 4 enables theeasy turning of the movable trunk, section in this respect that shouldthere be any slight misalinement of the interlocked guides 9 and bracingelements 10 such misalinement will be compensated for by a yielding ofthe hinge.

This convertible trunk and luggage carrier may be readily changed froman open toa closed container or vice versa and will be securely held ineither of its positions.

When the trunk is in the open position shown in Fig. 2 the carryingspace will be substantially double that when it is in upright closedposition and when in either position it will present a neat attractiveappearance.

In carrying out these objects, the invention is susceptible of a widerange of modification without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the claimed invention; there being shown in thedrawings for illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, inwhich:

I claim:

1. A trunk comprising a fixed section including a cross bar, a movablesection also including a cross bar, latch means carried by one of thebars and being movable into a latching position with reference to theother bar to lock the two sections in the closed position, and a tophingedly carried by the cross barof the movable section in a position tocover the latch means and required to be raised for access to the latchmeans.

2. A trunk comprising a fixed section including a cross bar, a movablesection also including a cross bar, said cross bars coming intoconfronting relationship when the sections are moved into a closedposition with respect to each other,

latch means carried by one of the bars including a handle for moving thelatch means into locking relationship with the other bar, and a tophingedly carried by the movable section, said top being closable toprevent reverse movement of the handle and prevent access to the latchmeans while said top is closed.

3. A trunk comprising a fixed section, a movable section, latch meanscarried by one of the sections including a handle for moving the latchmeans into locking relationship with the other section, a top hingedlycarried by one of the sections, said top being closeable to preventreverse movement of the handle and prevent access to the latch meanswhile said top is closed.

i. A trunk comprising a pair of sections having overlapping ends,arcuate guide means on at least one end of one section and interengagingstop means on the adjacent end of the other section, said stop meansbeing slidable-along the arcuate guide means, and double-action hingemeans connecting the sections for opening and closing, the double actionof said hinge means enabling compensation for any misalignment of thestop and guide means.

5. A trunk comprising a pair of sections having overlapping ends,arcuate guide means on at least one end of one section and interengagingstop means on the adjacent end of the other section, said stop meansbeing slidable along the arcuate guide means, and means including adouble hinge connecting the sections for opening and closing, said meansbeing yieldable to compensate for any misalignment of the stop and'guidemeans.

CHAS. J. CARLSON.

